In my opinion, this is a slightly less entertaining book by Mary Roach. She still glories in the oddities of her chosen subject, but there seem to be fewer occasions for it. I was pleased to learn that Roach has a friend, Steph, who seems to be willing to drop everything and fly to Tbilisi to attempt to interview a surgeon who has used a cancer patient's finger to replace his penis. Steph makes smart-alec comments just like Mary. Everyone needs a friend like this.
Roach is so much more adventurous than I. I find myself wishing that I had her chutzpah. She interviews surgeons, witnesses their procedures, learns about entubation with an anesthesiologist, gets in an iron lung to experience what a polio victim did, treks to Mongolia with an ophthalmic team, and visits a practitioner in Mexico who does butt lifts, among other activities.
Having finished the book, I must confess that I am confirmed in my aversion to ever undergoing another surgery. I am profoundly thankful for the procedures I have benefited from, but I will have to do some serious forgetting before willingly having a joint replacement, despite my gimpy knee. If I never go under anesthetic again, it will be too soon. I discovered that I am more squeamish than I believed about surgery. I've undergone cataract surgery and bless it, but reading about it was difficult. The description of cosmetic surgery, including breast implants, was distressing for two reasons: the blatant disregard for women's health and comfort; and the also blatant assumptions of the male surgeons deciding what is attractive and/or necessary for their female patients. Roach spent time with a surgeon who performs transgender surgeries and who seemed to belong to a minority of doctors who actually asked the client what they wanted and then believed them. For example, when a trans woman tells you that she won't be needing a functional vagina, there's no reason to spend time and resources to create one.
The footnotes along the way are worth the price of admission. Roach is a magpie with an eye for a shiny fact and she remembers very obscure details. I can't imagine how she spends her spare time, but I like to imagine that she reads esoteric journals and rare books. I also am heartened by the number of researchers and physicians who are willing to take time out of their schedules to answer questions, discuss theories, lead tours, and speculate about the future. Their bravery to share their expertise is inspiring.
I maintain my stance that I would love to have coffee with Ms. Roach. I know this is an impossible wish, but boy would it be fun.
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